Former Head of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department of Calcutta University, Dr. Tapati Basu, died on Saturday, leaving generations of her former students and academic associates in a state of mourning. She was 68.

Her son Sagnik Basu posted on Facebook: "My Beloved Mother Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu www.tapatibasu.com left us with her smile on 13th April 2024 at 7.49 pm due to acute respiratory failure."

"On 14th April (Sunday) and till 15th April, 11.45 am she will be in her residence at Avani Oxford Phase 1, Lake Town. On 15th April 12.30 pm she will be at her other residence at Sukia Street and then at 1.30 pm she will be in the University of Calcutta, Senate House and 2 pm she will start her journey for Nimtala Ghat for Cremation," he wrote.

In her illustrious career, Tapati Basu, who was a Premchand Roychand Scholar, studied for a Master Degree (M.A.) in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta.

Dr. Basu, known for her popularity among her students over the past many decades, did her LL.B from the Department of Law, University of Calcutta. She was also appointed as UGC Senior Research Scholar & Visiting Faculty in 1988. She joined the department as a Lecturer first and went on to helm the department for many years.

Her work in Media Laws is noteworthy.

She was the first candidate to clear the NET - GRF,SRF (National Eligibility Test) in Journalism and Mass Communication in India and started doing research in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in India.

She did her Ph.D in "Newspaper Advertising".

Her research work is still available in the Central Library of the University of Calcutta.

She completed post-doctorate in Universite De Paris Sorbonne, Paris in French Media.

She has research work on Science Communication in French Media in Maison Des Sciences De L'Home, Paris.

She was awarded the D.Litt from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Berhampur University on "Television and Internet as Entertainment Media and its Impact on Society".